Alleged robber stabs her son, but mum reacts with kindness

Police have taken a man into custody after an alleged stabbing on Reservoir rd.The owner of a local chicken shop had managed to calm the man down even after he had allegedly stabbed her son in the chest. PICTURE: JUSTIN BRIERTY

NADIA Softa held the head of the man who she claims had just tried to rob her restaurant, washing his forehead and speaking to him about his family until he stopped struggling.

The Babba's Super Rooster owner is, by all accounts, one tough chook.

She was setting up her family restaurant in Manoora yesterday when she said a young man entered and tried to steal money from the locked till, eventually using a pair of scissors to cut its cord.

He had already been in the shop earlier that day to buy food.

"My son, Paul, asked him what he was doing," Ms Softa said.

"He started calling Paul names and then got the scissors.

"Paul is very fit but he doesn't know how to duck.

"I told him, around here you need to know when to face someone, when to walk away and when to run."

King Rooster chicken shop owner Nadia Softa takes abreak after her son was stabbed in the chest. Police have taken a man into custody after an alleged stabbing on Reservoir rd.The owner of a local chicken shop had managed to calm the man down even after he had allegedly stabbed her son in the chest. PICTURE: JUSTIN BRIERTY

Mr Softa received a "fairly bad" stab wound to his chest and a cut on his arm, but still wrestled the man to the ground while police were called.

Mrs Softa said the man was struggling violently and trying to bite her son's neck, and threw a brick towards him.

Her maternal instinct kicked in and she held his head firmly while talking to him and giving him a drink.

"I gave him some water and put some water on his head, and washed his forehead and face," she said.

"He calmed down, then he started crying.

"He told me he was from the Gold Coast and didn't have a mum, and he had nowhere to live and was staying on the street.

"I told him he doesn't have to do that - there's help in Cairns and we do have shelters.

"He just slumped and started crying.

"He offered me money to pay for the cable but I told him to keep it to pay for his lodgings."

Mrs Softa went back to work after police arrested the man, while her son went to hospital for treatment.

She planned to go camping today to get the event off her mind.

Her son will be back at work.

Mrs Softa urged authorities to establish a police beat in Manoora or keep more visible patrols due to a rise in crime.

"The government gives young people money for nothing, so why should they work?" she said.

"Then they go to jail and it's like a holiday - I guess it is compared to their home.

"Kids are out in the street with no supervision, but nobody cares.

"The parents are mostly to blame."

A Queensland Police Service spokesman confirmed a man had entered the take away shop on Reservoir Rd at about 1.40pm yesterday, causing damage to an EFTPOS terminal after ordering some food.

When the man left the store, a 48-year-old male staff (Paul Softa) followed and challenged the offender about the damage.

A physical altercation occurred during which Mr Softa received a stab wound to his chest from a pair of scissors, a cut to his forehead, abrasions to his knee and a dislocated finger.

Police arrested the offender at the scene who is currently assisting them with their inquiries.

Mr Softa was transported to Cairns Hospital for treatment of his injuries.